Cisco offers an extensive catalog of wireless networking products and software tools designed to enable continual access to information and resources and to promote teamwork among employees, associates, suppliers, and clients. Cisco's wireless products include the Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points, plus Cisco's Wireless Network Controller modules and standalone devices. Progent's certified wireless consulting experts can enable organizations of any size to deploy Cisco wireless solutions to accommodate the current model of BYOD networks by converging their wired/wireless networks to benefit from easy configuration, consistent and fast performance, single-point control, enterprise-wide policy, fault tolerance, and across-the-board protection.

Aironet Wireless Consulting Services

Cisco Converged Security Architecture for Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) and Wired/Wireless Connectivity

Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture can expand to as many as 18,000 access points with full Layer 3 mobility at local or offsite venues such as enterprise headquarters, university auditoriums, branch offices, and telecommuter homes. Cisco's 802.11x wireless access points and controllers are part of Cisco's Unified Wireless Network and are designed to support the identical degree of security, performance, and manageability for wireless LANs that companies demand in their wired networks. This technology incorporates integrated mobility services like IP voice, HD video, and safe guest access. Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture allows organizations to build wireless environments that improve the way they work and improve output via a dynamic and collaborative workforce.

Progent's Cisco CCIE network consultants can provide online or onsite support to assist you to plan, deploy, manage, expand, and repair converged wired and wireless network infrastructure of all sizes and for any venue. Also, Progent offers affordable online and onsite Wi-Fi site surveys to help your company to plan and install a wireless LAN with custom-designed wireless access point clusters optimized for your specific work area layout, building structure, and intended application.

Small Business, Aironet and Meraki Wireless Access Points (APs)
Cisco and Meraki Wireless Access Points ConsultantsCisco's Small Business, Aironet and Meraki lines of access points enable you to integrate wired and wireless infrastructure to deliver the accessibility, capacity, throughput, protection and manageability needed for practically any environment. Cisco's access points range from entry-level, single-band 802.11b/g/n devices with throughput of 300 Mb designed for small companies or telecommuters to dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac APs suitable for handling 200 or more clients on each AP and offering throughput of up to 1.9 Gbps. Cisco's current selection of wireless access points can be combined or clustered to provide the scale to handle environments crowded with clients and with a high incidence of video-intense apps.

Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Family of Wireless Access Points
Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points ConsultantsCisco's Small Business 100, 300 and 500 Series of APs are Linux-based units intended as value-priced 802.11n Wi-Fi solutions for light workloads. Many models in the Cisco Small Business portfolio of APs work with Cisco's Single Point Setup technology, which allows you to set up, manage and repair a cluster of access points from a single AP through an intuitive browser-based tool. All versions support Power over Ethernet (POE) and feature Quality of Service (QoS), rogue access point detection, and bridge mode for connecting to a second Ethernet LAN.

The Cisco Small Business WAP121 Access Point is a wall-mountable, single-band 2.4GHz device that can handle 16 802.11b/g/n wireless clients, includes a Fast Ethernet port, permits up to four access pointss and 40 wireless clients per cluster, and can handle data rates of up to 300 Mbps. Cisco's Small Business WAP131 is a desktop dual-radio 802.11a/b/g/n access point able to handle 16 wireless clients on each radio for up to 32 wireless clients, includes a Gigabit Ethernet port, and can support throughput of up to 300 Mbps per radio. The WAP131 Wireless-N does not support AP clustering. Cisco's Small Business WAP150 is a general-purpose Wave 1 dual-radio 802.11ac/n access point that includes a one Gbit Power over Ethernet port and can handle up to 16 clients per radio with 867 Mbps performance for 802.11ac clients and 300 Mbps for 802.11n clients. Cisco's WAP1501 supports 4 access points for each cluster.

The Cisco Small Business WAP321 Wireless-N Access Point is a wallmount single-band (2.4 or 5 GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n device that can handle up to 80 wireless clients in an 8-device cluster. The Cisco WAP321 has a 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface and can support a data rate of 300 Mbps for the activated radio. The Cisco WAP351 is a dual-band 802.11n wireless access point that includes a 5-port Gigabit Ethernet switch and can handle 32 wireless clients per radio for a total of up to 64 active clients, and support sustained throughput of 300 Mbps for each radio. The WAP351 access point does not support clustering. The Cisco WAP361 is a dual-band 802.11ac wireless access point that includes a 5 x Gb Ethernet switch, can support 32 active WLAN clients per radio, and delivers 867 Mbps throughput for 802.11ac devices and 300 Mbps performance for 802.11n devices. The Cisco WAP361 allows eight access points per cluster. Cisco's wallmount WAP371 Wireless-AC/N is a dual-band device that works with 802.11n as well as the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The WAP371 Wireless-AC/N has a Gigabit Ethernet interface, can support as many as 32 wireless clients on each radio, and 8 access points per cluster.

The Cisco Small Business WAP561 Wireless-N Dual Radio Selectable Band access point includes a Gigabit Ethernet port and dual concurrent radios that offer 450 Mbps performance per radio, support 64 clients for each radio, and allow 16 APs per cluster. Cisco's WAP551 is like Cisco's WAP 561 but has a single selectable band. The Cisco Small Business WAP571 and WAP571E (a weather-proof outdoor model) are dual-radio Wireless-AC/N wireless access points incorporating 2 x GE LAN interfaces with link aggregation (LAG), 3x3 MIMO, and as high as 1.9 Gigabit/sec performance with 1300 Mbps over 11ac and 600 Mbps on 802.11n. Both wireless access points can handle 32 clients on each radio and 16 WAP371 access points on each cluster.

The Aironet Family of Access Points
Aironet Wireless Access Point Consulting ServicesCisco Meraki Access Points ConsultantsCisco's Aironet family of indoor and outdoor wireless access points has for years been the market leading access point solution. Aironet APs range from value priced models to enterprise-class APs. Cisco's Aironet series cover multiple generations of devices supporting the evolving 802 specification. Cisco's current portfolio of Aironet access points support Cisco's Unified Wireless Network architecture and incorporate 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, which offers three times the performance as well as greater range and user density compared to the previous generation of devices. The latest multi-frequency Aironet access points can handle 802.11n at 2.4 GHz for clients that lack 802.11ac capability.

The oldest Aironet APs are now outdated devices that have come to end-of-sale status and are not fully supported by Cisco. Progent continues to provide technical support for the entire Aironet family of APs and can assist your company to manage and troubleshoot your existing Aironet wireless system or move smoothly to the latest Aironet technology. To find out more about Progent's support for current and legacy Aironet wireless access points, see Cisco Aironet APs consulting.

Meraki Access Points
Cisco Meraki AP ConsultantsCisco Meraki Wireless AP Integration ConsultingCisco's portfolio of Meraki 2.4/5 GHz indoor APs include budget-friendly models for small businesses to advanced units that offer up to 2.5 Gigabit per second throughput. Every Cisco Meraki indoor AP offers next-generation capabilities such as self-configuring deployment, in-depth security, Bring-Your-Own-Device support, extensive traffic analysis, zero-touch over-the-web updates, and centralized cloud management for multiple sites. Every Cisco Meraki indoor AP also includes dual powerful client-serving radios with enhanced receive sensitivity plus a separate radio that offers intrusion detection and prevention system (WIDS/WIPS) security for threat detection and deep packet inspection.

Cisco's Meraki outdoor access points are IP67 certified, designed to operate in rugged outdoor conditions, and tested to withstand dust particles, shock and moisture. Cisco's Meraki outdoor wireless access points include a Gigabit Ethernet port and deliver advanced features that include cloud-based management with multi-site visibility, 802.1X integration, built-in antivirus scan (NAC), single-click secure guest access and isolation firewall, Layer 7 traffic shaping, plus self-configuring mesh with MIMO and beamforming. To find out more about Progent's support for Meraki wireless access points and management, see Meraki wireless access points consulting services.

Cisco Wave 2 WiFi LAN Controllers
Cisco Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers enable realtime data exchange, provisioning, management, monitoring and troubleshooting for Cisco Wi-Fi appliances and services. Cisco has developed both hardware and virtual wireless controllers for centralized management of WiFi networks, but networks with a large number of Wi-Fi access points are better served by hardware-based wireless controllers. Current generation Wi-Fi controller appliances from Cisco offer significant benefits in comparison to Wave 1 and older models such as higher performance, concurrent support for both 1G and 10G Ethernet, improved application visibility and control, and hardened, built-in protection.

Cisco 3504 Wi-Fi Controller Setup and Troubleshooting ConsultantsCisco's 3504 Wireless Controller is an entry-level appliance with a desktop enclosure and designed for smaller businesses. You can use the 3504 model in a centralized network architecture such as in lean branch and remote offices administered over the wide-area network with FlexConnect, or in mesh installations where Ethernet cabling is sparse. The 3504 wireless controller can handle as many as 150 WiFi access points and 3,000 users, delivers 4 Gbps performance, and supports 4,096 VLANs. Cisco's 3504 WiFi controller includes a Cisco Multigigabit port (up to 5 Gigabit Ethernet) and four 1-Gigabit Ethernet connections. Access points can be connected to the controller through two Power over Ethernet ports. The 3504 Wi-Fi controller features fast failover for APs and clients, which provides nonstop availability for apps. As with other Wave 2 Wi-Fi controllers from Cisco, the 3504 device has the integrated ability to communicate with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco Mobility Services Engine, and Cisco 5520 and 8540 WLAN controllers.

Cisco 5520 Wi-Fi Controller Configuration ConsultantsCisco's 5520 Wireless Controller, offered in a 1 rack unit (RU) package, is intended to support midsize to large enterprises and campus networks and can be used in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments. The 5520 wireless controller can handle as many as 1,500 APs and 20,000 client users, offers 20 Gbps throughput, and supports up to 4,096 VLANs. The 5520 model controller includes two 10 GE ports and incorporates solid-state storage, backup fans, optional backup power supplies, and rapid failover for nonstop availability.

Cisco 8540 Wi-Fi Controller Integration ConsultingCisco's 8540 Wireless Controller, offered in a 2 rack unit (RU) package, is a high-end wireless controller designed to support enterprises, service providers, and large campuses. The 8540 WiFi controller can be run in centralized, distributed, and mesh deployments and can handle as many as 6,000 Wi-Fi access points and 64,000 client users. The 8540 Wireless controller can deliver throughput as high as 40 Gbps and supports 4,096 VLANs. The 8340 comes with four 1-GB or 10GE ports and features SSD storage, backup power supplies, redundant fans, and subsecond failover.

Wave 1 Cisco WiFi LAN Controllers
Wireless LAN Controllers ConsultantsCisco wireless network controllers reduce the time and cost needed to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot wireless networks by centralizing control of tasks such as setting up APs, enforcing single-point policies throughout converged wired and wireless networks, supporting enterprise-wide Quality of Service for IP voice and HD video, monitoring and troubleshooting network health, implementing intrusion prevention capabilities to guard against cyber break-ins and Denial of Service attacks, and managing IPv6 and dual-stack clients. Cisco has designed wireless LAN controllers for organizations of all sizes and offers desktop or rackmount appliances, modular add-on wireless controllers for Cisco routers and switches, and Catalyst switches with integrated wireless controllers.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Module Consulting ServicesCisco's Wave 1 WiFi controllers include Cisco CleanAir technology to avoid signal interference and produce self-healing and self-optimizing wireless LANs for top 802.11n and 802.11ac performance and protection. Built-in Bonjour Gateways permit discovery, advertisement and policy across the enterprise for Apple applications. For fault tolerance, Cisco wireless network controllers support AP and client stateful switchover by enabling a standby high-availability controller to synchronize with a main controller for AP license count, CAPWAP keys, and access point CAPWAP state. If the primary controller stops working, thousands of wireless access points and wireless clients can switchover in less than a second to the backup wireless LAN controller.

Cisco's Wireless Controller Module for ISR G2 Routers with UCS-E provides entry-level 802.11n and 802.11ac capability for 2900 and 3900 routers used by smaller businesses and branches. This value-priced and expandable module can support from five to 200 APs and up to 6000 wireless clients. (To learn about Progent's remote and onsite consulting support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router deployment and troubleshooting consulting.)

Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series are 1RU form-factor switches intended for small to mid-size businesses and branch offices and have a built-in wireless LAN controller with the ability to support up to 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and 25 wireless access points and 1000 clients on each switch. Catalyst 3850 Series are 1RU rackmount switches intended for midsize businesses and large enterprises and include an integrated wireless network controller supporting 40 Gb of wireless throughput per switch and support for up to 50 access points and 2000 clients. The WiSM2 is a plug-in blade for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches with a built-in wireless controller intended for mid-to-large size enterprises and able to deliver 20 Gbps throughput and with support for up to 1000 wireless access points and as many as 15,000 wireless clients. (To find out about Progent's online and onsite consulting support for Cisco switches, refer to Cisco Catalyst switches configuration and management support.)

Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers are entry-level desktop appliances that streamline the provisioning and operation of Wi-Fi networks for small to medium-sized enterprises and branches. The Cisco 2500 wireless LAN controller can handle from five to 75 wireless access points and up to 1000 wireless clients and offers sustained performance of up to 1 Gbps.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Consulting ServicesThe Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller is a scalable 1RU appliance intended for mid-to-large sized organizations and campuses and can support 500 access points and 7,000 wireless clients while delivering 8 Gbps performance. The Cisco 5760 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device intended for mid-to-large campus environments with support for up to 1000 APs and 12,000 wireless clients and offering throughput of 60 Gbps to handle high wireless client densities and high usage of media-rich applications.

Cisco's Flex 7500 Wireless Controller is designed to enable centralized management of thousands of wireless remote sites from one location, avoiding the costs of a Wi-Fi controller at each branch. The 1RU Flex 7500 lets you build a private cloud to deploy, track, manage, and repair as many as 6000 access points and up to 64,000 wireless clients while supporting 1 Gbps throughput. The Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller is a 1RU device designed to manage wireless environments for very large campuses or for service providers and can scale to support 6000 APs and up to 64,000 wireless clients while delivering 10 Gbps throughput.

For more information about Cisco WiFi controllers, visit Cisco Wi-Fi controllers consulting services.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Access Points, LAN Bridges and Wi-Fi Controllers Supported by Progent
The 802.11ac standard for wireless connectivity virtually made obsolete all earlier generations of Wi-Fi products for environments that have high numbers of wireless clients and high usage of video-intensive applications. Even for businesses who do not currently require the performance of 802.11ac, a large number of Cisco wireless products have reached end-of-sale or end-of-support status, which can represent significant maintenance and compliance issues. Progent's Cisco-certified consultants offer remote and onsite support for a broad range of older-generation wireless products from Cisco. Progent can in addition assist organizations to evaluate the potential ROI for updating up-of-date wireless technology and can assist in planning and executing affordable, non-disruptive migrations. The following are a sample of Cisco legacy Wi-Fi products that Progent's consulting experts continue to support.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points
Aironet 1000/1130AG family wireless access points are designed for offices and other venues which have little environmental variability. These devices include integrated antennas that offer predictable radio range patterns. The 1130G family WAP is offered for controlled locations that do not allow 802.11a operation.

Aironet 1230AG/1240AG family wireless access points are intended for more challenging radio frequency environments like manufacturing plants and warehouses or above ceiling structures which commonly call for flexible protruding antennas and ruggedized enclosures. The Cisco 1240G Series device is available for controlled domains that do not permit 5GHz transmission.

Cisco Aironet 1500 lightweight outdoor wireless mesh APs provide a cost-effective, expandable, protected outdoor wireless solution for enterprise campuses and for public venues that need access for portable devices.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Bridges
Cisco Aironet Wireless Bridges ConsultingCisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges provide a high-performance and multi-featured solution for connecting multiple LANs in a metro area or public wireless environment. Cisco bridges offer a flexible, easy-to-use technology that satisfies the protection demands of public networking specialists. They support both PTP and PTMP deployments with good range and the ability to handle data throughput as high as 54 Mbps.

Cisco wireless bridges deliver data rates several times higher than E1/T1 links for a fraction of the expense, erasing the requirement for expensive leased lines when connecting different buildings. Since bridges have no periodic charges, savings on connection bills quickly cover the initial hardware costs. Self-installed private lines and in some cases leased lines utilizing metal or optical cable often require very expensive up-front expenses if they are impeded by obstacles such as highways, railroads, or bodies of water. Cisco Aironet wireless LAN bridges can be deployed rapidly an offer a fast ROI.

Cisco 1300 family outside access points/bridges can be deployed as independent access points, wireless bridges, or wireless group bridges. These products have a tough cover and offer fast, cost-effective wireless interfaces between numerous stationary or mobile environments and clients.

Cisco 1400 Series wireless bridges offer high-speed, reliable outside wireless bridging for LOS environments. They are housed in a durable cover that can withstand severe outdoor conditions and operate in wide temperature ranges.

Legacy Cisco Wireless Network Controllers
Cisco WLAN Controllers ConsultantsCisco WLAN Controllers provide single-point management of wireless networks by simplifying the control of common technologies including intrusion prevention, fast RF control, automatic deployment, and N+1 redundancy. Wireless Network controllers work with lightweight access points to deliver superior throughput and high-end control capabilities.

WLAN Controllers offer the control, expandability, security, and resilience that network managers require to create safe, enterprise-scale wireless environments, from branch locations to small companies to main campuses. Cisco's legacy Wireless Network Controllers can be clustered to provide accommodation for as many as 2400 access points for each roaming domain.

Cisco's WLCM or WLCM-E Wireless LAN Controller Module for Integrated Services (IS) Routers offers small-to mid-size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises an economical solution to deploy and control secure wireless networks at branch locations. These wireless controllers manage up to 12 Cisco Aironet access points and are installable in 2800/3800 Series Routers and Cisco 3700 Series Integrated Services Routers. (To learn concerning Progent's remote and onsite support for Cisco routers, see Cisco router configuration and troubleshooting services.)

How Progent's Consultants Can Assist Your Company with Cisco Wireless Products
Progent can provide access to a Cisco-certified consulting professional to assist you to design, deploy, manage and repair a converged wired and wireless ecosystem incorporating a broad range of wireless products that provide the identical protection, extensibility, and ease of management you demand from a wired environment. Progent can assist you to manage early-generation Wi-Fi solutions from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology. Progent's CISA and ISSAP security professionals can show you how to build protection into your WLAN and into your company's processes. Progent's disaster recovery consultants and business continuity consultants can assist you to configure the high availability (HA) technology built into Cisco's wireless and wired technologies so your converged network provides continuing business value.

Progent’s Wi-Fi Site Survey helps you to design and deploy a robust wireless network customized for your facilities, providing a wireless ecosystem that provides comprehensive coverage, high speed and density, Quality of Service features to support IP video, advanced security, and easy management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed online to cut time and expense, or on premises for more complex environments.

For a further look at Progent's wireless consulting capabilities, see Progent's Wireless LAN Support Services.

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